ALADURA

(Yoruba: Owners of Prayer), religious movement among the Yoruba peoples of western Nigeria, embracing some of the independent prophet-healing churches of West Africa. The movement, which in the early 1970s had several hundred thousand adherents, began about 1918 among the younger elite in the well-established Christian community. They were dissatisfied with Western religious forms and lack of spiritual power and were influenced by literature from the small U.S. divine-healing Faith Tabernacle Church of Philadelphia. The 1918 world influenza epidemic precipitated the formation of a prayer group of Anglican laymen at Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria; the group emphasized divine healing, prayer protection, and a puritanical moral code. By 1922 divergences from Anglican practice forced the separation of a group that became known as the Faith Tabernacle, with several small congregations. The main expansion occurred when a prophet-healer, Joseph Babalola (190659), became the centre of a mass divine-healing movement in 1930. Yoruba religion was rejected, and pentecostal features that had been suppressed under U.S. influence were restored. Opposition from traditional rulers, government, and mission churches led the movement to request help from the pentecostal Apostolic Church in Britain. Missionaries arrived in 1932, and the Aladura movement spread and consolidated as the Apostolic Church. Problems arose over the missionaries' use of Western medicinesclearly contrary to doctrines of divine healingtheir exclusion of polygamists, and their assertion of full control over the movement. In 193841 the ablest leaders, including Babalola and Isaac B. Akinyele (later Sir), formed their own Christ Apostolic Church, which by the 1960s had 100,000 members and its own schools and had spread to Ghana. The Apostolic Church continued its connection with its British counterpart; other secessions produced further apostolic churches. The Cherubim and Seraphim society is a distinct section of the Aladura founded by Moses Orimolade Tunolase, a Yoruba prophet, and Christiana Abiodun Akinsowon, an Anglican who had experienced visions and trances. In 192526 they formed the society, with doctrines of revelation and divine healing replacing traditional charms and medicine. They separated from the Anglican and other churches in 1928. In the same year the founders parted, and further divisions produced more than 10 major and many minor sections, which spread widely in Nigeria and to Benin (formerly Dahomey), Togo, and Ghana. The Church of the Lord (Aladura) was started by Josiah Olunowo Oshitelu, an Anglican catechist and schoolteacher, whose unusual visions, fastings, and devotions led to his dismissal in 1926. By 1929 he was preaching judgment on idolatry and native charms and medicines, uttering prophecies, and healing through prayer, fasting, and holy water. The Church of the Lord (Aladura), which he founded at Ogere in 1930, spread to north and east Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and beyond AfricaNew York City and Londonwhere several other Aladura congregations also meet. The Aladura movement continues to grow and includes many small secessions, ephemeral groups, prophets with one or two congregations, and healing practitioners. (Yoruba: Owners of Prayer), religious movement among the Yoruba peoples of western Nigeria, embracing some of the independent prophet-healing churches of West Africa. The movement, which in the early 1970s had several hundred thousand adherents, began about 1918 among the younger elite in the well-established Christian community. They were dissatisfied with Western religious forms and lack of spiritual power and were influenced by literature from the small U.S. divine-healing Faith Tabernacle Church of Philadelphia. The 1918 world influenza epidemic precipitated the formation of a prayer group of Anglican laymen at Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria; the group emphasized divine healing, prayer protection, and a puritanical moral code. By 1922 divergences from Anglican practice forced the separation of a group that became known as the Faith Tabernacle, with several small congregations. The main expansion occurred when a prophet-healer, Joseph Babalola (190659), became the centre of a mass divine-healing movement in 1930. Yoruba religion was rejected, and pentecostal features that had been suppressed under U.S. influence were restored. Opposition from traditional rulers, government, and mission churches led the movement to request help from the pentecostal Apostolic Church in Britain. Missionaries arrived in 1932, and the Aladura movement spread and consolidated as the Apostolic Church. Problems arose over the missionaries' use of Western medicinesclearly contrary to doctrines of divine healingtheir exclusion of polygamists, and their assertion of full control over the movement. In 193841 the ablest leaders, including Babalola and Isaac B. Akinyele (later Sir), formed their own Christ Apostolic Church, which by the 1960s had 100,000 members and its own schools and had spread to Ghana. The Apostolic Church continued its connection with its British counterpart; other secessions produced further apostolic churches. The Cherubim and Seraphim society is a distinct section of the Aladura founded by Moses Orimolade Tunolase, a Yoruba prophet, and Christiana Abiodun Akinsowon, an Anglican who had experienced visions and trances. In 192526 they formed the society, with doctrines of revelation and divine healing replacing traditional charms and medicine. They separated from the Anglican and other churches in 1928. In the same year the founders parted, and further divisions produced more than 10 major and many minor sections, which spread widely in Nigeria and to Benin (formerly Dahomey), Togo, and Ghana. The Church of the Lord (Aladura) was started by Josiah Olunowo Oshitelu, an Anglican catechist and schoolteacher, whose unusual visions, fastings, and devotions led to his dismissal in 1926. By 1929 he was preaching judgment on idolatry and native charms and medicines, uttering prophecies, and healing through prayer, fasting, and holy water. The Church of the Lord (Aladura), which he founded at Ogere in 1930, spread to north and east Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and beyond AfricaNew York City and Londonwhere several other Aladura congregations also meet. The Aladura movement continues to grow and includes many small secessions, ephemeral groups, prophets with one or two congregations, and healing practitioners. estado (state) of northeastern Brazil. It is the second smallest of Brazil's 23 states and is an agricultural region in the early stages of industrialization. Situated on the northern bank of the So Francisco River, it is bounded on the north and west by the state of Pernambuco, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Sergipe, and on the west by Bahia. It has an area of 10,707 square miles (27,731 square km). Its coastline is about 138 miles (220 km) long. The name of the state derives from its large number of lakes ( lagas). The capital is Macei. Prto Calvo in the north and Penedo, located on the northern bank of the So Francisco River, were founded during the early years of the Portuguese occupation of Brazil, in the 16th century. In the early part of the 17th century the Dutch obtained a foothold but were soon expelled. At about the same time, quilombosfortified settlements of fugitive slaves, with a distinct culture that had many African characteristicswere established in the forests. Alagoas was a district of Pernambuco until 1817, when it became a captaincy (fief). Following the proclamation of Brazilian independence in 1822, it became a province of the empire, and in 1889 it became a state of the republic. The climate of Alagoas is hot and humid along the coast and hot and dry in the interior. The terrain slopes downward from a semi-barren plateau to a narrow coastal plain. The principal rivers of the state are the So Francisco and the Munda, Paraba, and Coruripe. Lagoa Munda, or Lagoa do Norte (Lake of the North), and Lagoa Manguaba, or Lagoa do Sul (Lake of the South), are the largest of the state's many lakes. Geologically, Alagoas consists mostly of the southern part of the Serra da Borborema (Borborema Mountain Range). The Serra Lisa (Lisa Mountain) is the state's highest point. There are four zones of vegetation: the coastal plain; the Mata, or tropical rain forest; the Agreste, a shrubby savanna parkland; and the Caatinga, an arid region covered with underbrush and cacti. The animal life of the state is rich and varied. The Alagoans are a mixture of peoples of European, African, and Indian origin. White- and black-skinned peoples predominate in the coastal region of Alagoas, cabocloscopper-skinned people of mixed European and Indian descentin the interior. The language of the state is Portuguese. Roman Catholicism is the principal religion. In addition to the University of Alagoas there is a state school of medical sciences and a private school of social service. Many institutions provide technical instruction. Abundant electric power is available from the Paulo Afonso hydroelectric project on the So Francisco River; the towns are supplied with electricity. The water supply, however, remains inadequate. The So Francisco River is being canalized, both for navigation and to supply the hinterland with water for domestic use. Sanitary conditions are poor. Although there are hospitals and other medical establishments in the state, all suffer from shortages of staff and funds. While Alagoas is still primarily an agricultural state, industrialization is making progress. The main agricultural products are sugarcane, beans, palm, coconuts, cassava (manioc), rice, corn (maize), cotton, and tobacco. Cattle raising is increasing in the Bacia Leitera, a dairying region in the west central part of the state. Sugar refining is the state's most important industry; other industries include textile manufacturing, dairy processing, iron smelting, and the processing of corn, rice, fertilizers, and hides. Deposits of amianthus, a fine, silky asbestos, are mined. There are a number of oil wells in production, and further drilling and prospecting has taken place. Oil production and exploration are centred on Arapiraca, Macei, Marechal Deodoro, So Miguel, Coqueiro Sco, and Piaabuo. The capital, Macei, is the chief commercial city, has an industrial district, and a modest foreign and coastwise trade is carried on through its port, Jaragu. Inland water transport is available on the So Francisco River and on several lakes. Flights from Palmares Airport link Macei to other Brazilian state capitals. Among the state's cultural institutions are the Historical and Geographic Institute, the Academy of Letters, and a medical society. Pop. (1990 est.) 2,420,400.